| Sand Ridge Forest Competitive Trail Ride Sanctioned by the North American Trail Ride Conference May 15-16, 2004 Location: Sand Ridge State Forest Forest City, Illinois |
| Come Ride the trails with us! Illinois home to 9th annual NATRC trail ride Are you interested in becoming a better trail rider or make a better trail horse? Would you like to see how you and your favorite steed compare to others in "trail savvy"? Then come join us for a weekend of learning and riding beautiful sandy trails for the ninth annual Sand Ridge Forest Competitive Trail Ride located in central Illinois May 15-16, 2004. This ride is a long distance competitive trail ride sanctioned by the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC). All competitors and their families will be camping at the Sand Ridge State Forest located north of Route 136 near Manito and Forest City (south of Peoria). The Sand Ridge Forest Competitive Trail Ride is a two-day event open to all breeds of horses, ponies and mules, registered or not. This is an ideal family sport that offers participants a chance to ride together, enjoy the scenery, meet nice people of all riding levels and disciplines, while being judged on good horsemanship skills out on the trail. A NATRC ride is not a race! NATRC uses time, distance and stress for judging criteria. Riders have a minimum and maximum time allowed for riding the trail. During the course of each day, a veterinarian judge (who scores each horse) will evaluate your horse's physical condition to ensure it's willing and capable of completing the ride. The veterinarian judge will also join the horsemanship judge (who scores each rider) in an evaluation of how each rider and his/her horse negotiates common trail obstacles, such as stepping over a substantial log, crossing a creek, or climbing and descending a hill. Their ideal scenario would be for a horse and rider to execute the obstacle smoothly, calmly and quietly - what we strive for in a good trail horse! The cost to enter the Sand Ridge Forest Competitive Trail Ride is: Adults - $60 (deduct $10 if received by April 15); Juniors (10-17) - $35; and first time NATRC competitors $45. Ride management has also offered a family discount. Families with three or more entries can get the third entry half price! A minimum deposit $10 will be nonrefundable must accompany your entry form. No shows and those vetted out at check-in will be refunded all but $10. Make checks payable to: Sand Ridge Forest CTR and send check and completed entry form to Ride Secretary Debbie Webb, P.O. Box 243, Bethalto, IL 62010. Please email Stacy Bowman at BOWMANFXTR@aol.com for an entry form. "When you look a the cost of other horse activities out there, our sport is very reasonable for the amount of knowledge and personal attention you receive each time you compete," Sand Ridge Ride Chairman Stacy Bowman added. The ride camp will be in the Sand Ridge Forest equestrian campground. The campsite is primitive but has water for you and your horses, a covered concrete pavilion for nightly ride briefings, and a pit toilet facility. Bring food for you and your horses. The park service charges $7/night camping fee. For those of you who do not want to cook breakfast or an evening meal on Saturday night, ride management is offering a catered chicken dinner for $7 at the covered pavilion. Please indicate on your entry form if you wish to purchase breakfast or dinner for you and your family and friends. Ride management encourages people to arrive Friday, May 14, to complete registration an to check-in your horse with the judges. For those unable to come until late Friday or early Saturday morning, call management for instructions. The ride begins around 7:30 a.m. each day. And, if you are bringing family and friends along who are not planning to ride, the Sand Ridge Ride management would love to have your help! Just contact the ride chairman or secretary or include these folks' names on your ride entry so we know that they are coming! "Those who volunteer to help are guaranteed to have fun and at the same time, get an inside look at what it takes to compete and put on a ride," Bowman added. Workders are also provided lunch each day. "We focus on safety, education and fun." For more information, contact Stacy Bowman at BOWMANFXTR@aol.com. |
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